Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Office of State Support Progress Check Quarterly Protocol

AGENCY:

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 11, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED–2024–SCC–0004. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, the Department will temporarily accept comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Manager of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W203, Washington, DC 20202–8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Andrew Brake, 202–453–6136.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. The Department is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Office of State Support Progress Check Quarterly Protocol.

OMB Control Number: 1810–0733.

Type of Review: An extension without change of a currently approved ICR.

Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 212.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 636.

Abstract: The Office of School Support and Accountability (SSA) administers Title I, Sections 1001–1004 (School Improvement); Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies); Title I, Part B Grants for State Assessments and Related Activities; Title II, Part A (Supporting Effective Instruction); Title I, Part D (Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk); Title IV, Part B (21st Century Community Learning Centers); and McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program. Quarterly progress checks, phone or in-person conversations every three months of a fiscal year with State directors and coordinators, help ensure that State Educational Agencies (SEAs) are making progress toward increasing student achievement and improving the quality of instruction for all students through regular conversations about the quality of SEA implementation of SSA administered programs. The information shared with SSA helps inform the selection and delivery of technical assistance to SEAs and aligns structures, processes, and routines so SSA can regularly monitor the connection between grant administration and intended outcomes. Progress checks also allow SSA to proactively engage with SEAs to identify any issues ahead of formal monitoring visits, decreasing the need for enforcement actions and minimizing burden for SEAs. This is a request for a renewal without change of this collection.